Hop plant named ‘Hort7709’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Hop plant is described. The cultivar results out of a selection from a population of seedlings derived from the open pollination of a tetraploid seedling selection 95-28-24 (not patented). The cones are of a small size, oval shape, ripen mid-late season, and have slightly open bracts. The cultivar has been shown to have a unique chemistry profile; of particular interest is the high yield of oil per gram of alpha acid.

Genus and species of plant claimed: Humulus lupulus L.

Variety denomination: ‘Hort7709’.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Seed was obtained from open pollination of the unreleased tetraploidseedling selection 95-28-24 (not patented) in the 1996/97 season.95-28-24 was identified as a tetraploid seedling from the openpollination of ‘Liberty’ (not patented). Triploid seedlings obtainedfrom this open pollination were grown in a nursery at the Motueka, NewZealand in the 1997/98 season; ploidy level was determined by flowcytometry. The resulting seedlings were then planted out in the fieldand grown in the 1998/99 season. The seedling, originally designated thebreeder code 97-77-09 and later named ‘Hort7709’, was selected duringthe 1998/99 season on the basis of its agronomic performance andchemistry profile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A new and distinct Hop plant is described. The cones of ‘Hort7709’ areof a small size, ovate shape, ripen mid-late season, and have slightlyopen bracts. The cultivar has been shown to have a unique chemistryprofile; of particular interest is the high yield of oil per gram ofalpha acid.

‘Hort7709’ was relocated to the seedling selections repository, at theMotueka, New Zealand site, in winter 1999 where it underwent performancemonitoring for agronomic and chemistry traits of commercial importancein the 1999/2000 season. During this time it was asexually propagatedvia rhizome cuttings. ‘Hort7709’ underwent evaluation in a small plotreplicated trial with nine other promising aroma selections for 3seasons, from 2000/01 to 2002/03.

On the basis of its performance for agronomic, chemistry and brewingcharacteristics, it was decided to advance ‘Hort7709’ to large-scaletesting. In late winter 2002 a 150-plant plot was established atMotueka, New Zealand and over the next eight seasons the cultivarunderwent extensive brewing, agronomic, and chemistry evaluations. Inaddition to this testing a 500-plant grower trial was established in theNelson Province in 2005. ‘Hort7709’ is maintained at Motueka as a150-plant plot where it has undergone observations for uniformity. Allplants have been found to be true to type, that is, no off types havebeen observed. Under New Zealand growing conditions ‘Hort7709’ isdistinguished from the known parental cultivar 95-28-24 and othercultivars of common knowledge by the following characteristics alongwith its unique chemistry profile and brewing characteristics.

95-28-24: the maternal parent 95-28-24 is tetraploid whereas ‘Hort7709’is triploid, the ploidy level has been confirmed by flow cytometry.

‘New Zealand Hallertauer’ (not patented): when mature ‘Hort7709’ vineshave an overall club-shape with a medium head volume and a late harvestseason, while ‘New Zealand Hallertauer’ vines are cylindrical in shapewith a low head volume and an early harvest season.

‘Pacifica’ (not patented): when mature ‘Hort7709’ vines have an overallclub-shape, a medium number of thorns, and a reddish-purple stripe,while ‘Pacifica’ vines are cylindrical in shape, have very few thornsand a green stripe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the plant habit,flowers, and leaves of the new cultivar as depicted in colours as nearlytrue as is reasonably possible to make the same in colour illustrationsof this character.

FIG. 1: Five year mean of chemistry profiles for ‘Hort7709’ at harvestand two comparator cultivars ‘New Zealand Hallertauer’ (not patented)and ‘Pacifica’ (not patented). Trials and testing was conducted inMotueka, New Zealand.

FIG. 2: Mature fully expanded leaves of ‘Hort7709’ (A) and ‘New ZealandHallertauer’ (B).

FIG. 3: Cones of ‘Hort7709’ (A) and ‘New Zealand Hallertauer’ (B).

FIG. 4: Close up of mature vines ‘Hort7709’ (A) and ‘New ZealandHallertauer’ (B).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following is a description of the new cultivar with colourterminology in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society ColourCharts (R.H.S.C.C.) 2001 edition. The specimens described were grown atMotueka, New Zealand. The observations were made over the 2009-2011seasons.

-   Plant form and vigour: Plants are of a normal growth type, are    club-shaped when mature and produce a moderate yield (average of    approximately 1700 kg/ha). The vine is thick and very vigorous but    is relatively slow to establish, training is delayed until later in    the season. Hop plants are usually trained in late October-early    November in New Zealand, however ‘Hort7709’ is not ready for    training until mid November. The main shoot of the vine, when    mature, has a medium number of thorns, an absent or very weak node    pubescence, a near greyed purple 187A stripe, background colour of    near green 143C with near red purple 59A flecks. One-year-old single    strung plants near to harvest maturity had an average main shoot    diameter of 10.7 mm with an average internode length of 228 mm.-   Laterals: The side shoots from the middle third of the plant were    medium in length (an average of approximately 670 mm) and produce a    medium number of cones, approximately 13 per node, with an average    of 7 nodes per lateral. The upper third of the plant produces longer    laterals (an average of 770 mm) and a higher number of cones per    lateral, approximately 13 per node, with an average of 11 nodes per    lateral. Laterals are predominantly distributed in the top third of    the vine, which accounts for the club-shape, in a spreading    attitude, and carry an overall medium number of cones.-   Leaves: Typical leaf arrangement was opposite. The lamina shape is    palmatified, with an average of three strong lobes which ranged from    slightly to strongly overlapping, with acuminate apices and slightly    imbricate basal lobes. The average length of the lobes was 116.7 mm.    The top side of the leaves were coloured between near green 137A and    137B, the underside was between near green 137C and 138A, with veins    near yellow green 146C and 146D. The colouration of the veins    extended down the underside of the petioles which averaged 68 mm in    length and 4.2 mm in width. The rest of the petiole was coloured    near greyed purple N186C, this grew slightly lighter towards the    leaf end. The margins of the leaves were acutely denate. The topside    of the leaves had evenly distributed small white straight trichomes;    these were also found along the main veins on the underside of    leaves. The petioles had raised lumps the same colour as the    surrounding tissue topped with bifid transparent trichomes.-   Stipules: Were connate and medium sized with an acute apex which    typically splits.-   Cone: Were small in size, an average of 39.7 mm long and 25.7 mm in    diameter at the widest point, medium ovate in shape and near yellow    green 144B and green 143C in colour. The slightly open bracts were    an average of 19.9 mm long and 11.6 mm wide at the widest point,    with a medium length apex and an acute tip. The cones mature late in    the season, 21^(st)-30^(th) March under average New Zealand    conditions.-   Chemistry profile: ‘Hort7709’ has undergone extensive chemistry    profile testing and the following are six year data averages (FIG.    1). It is compared with ‘Pacifica’ and ‘New Zealand Hallertauer’ as    these are commonly grown aroma hop cultivars in New Zealand. The    chemistry profile of ‘Hort7709’ differs significantly from both    ‘Pacifica’ and ‘New Zealand Hallertauer’ in a number of ways; these    include lower content of alpha acids when compared to ‘New Zealand    Hallertauer’ and ‘Pacifica’, significantly higher percentages of    farnesene than either comparator. The proportion of essential oils    at harvest found in ‘Hort7709’ cones differs considerably from that    found in either ‘Pacifica’ or ‘New Zealand Hallertauer’ as does the    overall oil content (mg/100 g). Consequently ‘Hort7709’ delivers a    unique flavour, aroma, and bittering quality when processed and is    therefore considered to be distinct. ‘Hort7709’ has no known    particular tolerances or susceptibilities to pests and diseases    associated with hop plants.-   Use: Flavouring and bittering ingredient for beer in the aroma    market.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct hop plant substantially as illustratedand described.